Titless Wonders

Television (Full Length) – 2001

When she found a lump in her breast, performer Jan Bolwell instinctively knew that her life was about to change profoundly. In this 72-minute documentary, she is one of those sharing their experience of breast cancer — from diagnosis to death. Included are intimate readings from the diary of late actor Shirley Grace. The interviews are intercut with snippets from Bolwell's show Off My Chest, a dance performance inspired by her double mastectomy. Gaylene Preston's documentary was invited to screen at the 2001 NZ Film Festival; the same year, it won its category at the Media Peace Awards.

The most terrible thing about breast cancer is that you can have this life-threatening disease and not feel sick.
– Jan Bolwell in The NZ Herald, 10 October 2002